TWC Rides again! Invacar belt drive fixed?
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Yes, it's TWC! She's come out of temporary hibernation with a little dose of magic, that seems to have solved her transmission woes - or has it? Belt dressing spray to improve the CVT belt drive. Includes some hot footage of CVT pulleys in action!
Also contains extreme weather, which livened up one of the test drives no end! Hoping to have further adventures soon...
Good to see Wales reaffirming its status as a liquid environment. The way oncoming traffic dived for the ditch at your approach suggests a folk memory of the times Invacars were driven by invalids. What a delightfully non-PC name for a vehicle. Looked like a heap of fun.
The different ability being to corner a 3-wheeler with a minus NCAP rating on Welsh bends at 60mph in the rain without screaming, presumably?
Borderlands they where listed by the dvla as invalid carriages.
I watched this while Belgian Grand Prix qualifying was on in the background. Hubnut & TWC were far more entertaining. 😆
yep and if 'top gear' or 'the grand bore (tour)' is on, id rather erm, do anything else than watch it
Would've made a brilliant Pope mobile for his tour if Ireland
@@lookandlisten5740 They certainly would have heard him coming!
not hard. to be honest
All 17 year olds should be made to drive these for at least one year after passing their tests!
I can imagine one of these with big 'drug dealer' rims and 'gangsta glass'
Somebody do that please. lol
I bet it would respond well to a little breathing on the engine?
Toby the Glen loud exhaust and a whistler , plenty of room for the subwoofer
Toby the Glen replace it with a bmw twin or something
brilliant ! one of the best TWC videos yet ! isnt it wonderful how a simple little 3 wheeled fiberglass vehicle can make a bearded grown man so very blooming happy ! long live little TWC
I have to say a new TWC video makes my day, every time.
I just binge watched Project Invacar (don't worry, I'm already divorced). It took me right back to my school days when our music teacher, the lovely Mr Rolfe, had one. The sound of the engine is so characteristic, I had a massive attack of nostalgia! I can't believe this was such compelling viewing; something to do with your die hard dedication, learning to fix it on the go (I also hate the drum brakes on my Fiat Strada Abarth..), copious amounts of soothing tea and all for such a 'modest' classic. Definitely a car of it's time and took me straight back to my youth. That is a very worthy thing :-)
Knowing people enjoy these videos really helps when things are going wrong! Thank you.
Just quality entertainment and to be very honest this is true reality TV! Great Viewing!
Never doubt Canadians when it comes to weird stuff! They used to get Dodge Trucks and called them Fargo, Dodge cars that were really Plymouths, Fords with Mercury trim, Ladas (Soviet ones), Pontiacs with French sounding names that sure looked like Chevrolets and so on. They know weird, its one of the reasons MOST of us in the US like Canadians...our current soon to be replaced government not withstanding. The belt, especially if NOS, will suck up the dressing and either get better with time, or start slipping again if it is so old that it's just too crusty to soak anything up. Neat vehicle, nothing like it here in the States, except may be that thing Corbin tried to make a decade or two ago that almost bankrupt the company.
Great to see a twc update, every drive is like an epic voyage in a little car meant to tootling to the shops in town.
It has a surprising turn of speed on the flat , especially the 0-30 , you’d beat lots of people away from the lights 😂
I remember back in the day a friend with a little Daf 44, which had the Daf belt drive automatic system, used to regularily beat sports cars away from the lights, (though they'd also regularily overtake him at just over 30mph). In the enjoyable Daf Museum in Eindhoven, Holland, they have a working full size exhibit showing how belt drive automatics work, along with some racing cars that used the system.
Hi, I'm a scooterist, I want to give you couple of pointers on CVT'S, the large spring (contra spring) on the driven (pully as apposed to the drive pully) is responsible for belt tension and for down shifting, these do wear and are inexpensive, on the drive pully there are some weights that can be changed (also may need a clean up) to suit the characteristics you wish eg how high the engine revs wile the pullys shift, it's trial and error, but what I've mentioned will hopefully help you to understand.
agree with you on that, i did wonder if the variator (drive pulley) or the driven pulley were sticking slightly and might benefit from a strip, cleaning and lubrication (TWC was stood for a long time) and would a belt enclosing case, stop water and/or dirt getting onto the transmission components ---- nothing fancy (could use the old guard for the basis), just something to keep the worst off.
Great to see you got to ride in somewhat quieter environment. Now all you need is sound dampener on the back wall and floor. Then squeeze more power out of the engine and you're off to climb hills. LOL, it was pretty exciting from our angle too.
Well we lost Barry chuckle but your a brilliant substitute...cheers from dave
Yay, great to see TWC on the road again. Looking forward to the next 300 mile adventure! I remember rubbing chalk on to squeaky fan belts in my youth, but it looks like that spray is doing a much better job! I like the camera shot from behind the driver so we can see whats going on with the controls and getting a great view ahead 👍
Even 20mph looked fast .I was holding my breath round the corners quite literally lol. Great video👍
Spotted an Invacar at the Lincoln Steam and Vintage Rally last weekend - it had a single-handed tiller for control by the left hand.
That exhaust note brings back memories for me. When I was growing up in east Kent in the 80s and 90s, I used to regularly see an Invacar in Sandwich which was driven by an old boy for many years. Even then, I thought that such conveyances were some kind of cruel and unusual punishment for being disabled. Having said that, it's nice to see TWC being preserved, used and enjoyed.
Now I thought driving round the Cornish countryside in my Leaf on narrow roads was scarry. This adventure in TWC is something else. Your still a brave man. Great fun and I enjoyed the video.
@pmailkeey oh indeed. I'd be happy to share my experience with the Leaf. Are you looking to go electric?
Phil - have a search on here. I've driven a few electric cars, from LEAF to Beetle...
It's great to see Lil Tuc scooting around again! Beautiful countryside! Thank you, Ian, for sharing that with us!
That was superb, a terrifying and thrilling journey all in one. The old wipe-the-screen-with-your-sleeve technique is something of a lost art nowadays!
Hi Ian lovely to see twc back on the road, what lovely weather you are having, great video, and yes I have now got a Renault 11 with no clutch, what fun cars are,
Sorry, haven't commented for some time. Sadly my father passed away, so haven't really had much time to watch the videos. Good to see that you appear to have found a solution to TWC's screaming dive belt problems. It looks like it's helped with performance on the flat. Don't we get wonderful weather in Wales! Will you be reconnecting the demister, or using an electric demister (if they're still available)? I had a stick on heating element on my Reliant Mk 5, which was quite efficient.
Whilst watching a thought crossed my mind about the switch layout in TWC. Not very well thought out. The indicator stalk and other switches could have been placed on the left, which would've a bit more ergonomic. Don't think it takes any of your experience when driving TWC. Looking forward to the next HubNut installments. Thanks Ian.
If you thought that drive was scary hanging onto the tiller, imagine what we were feeling riding shotgun. Definitely sphincter clenching material .... lol.
Laz Arus only one seat .
Good day from Canada (Montreal)! Great series! I have enjoyed watching your vids, especially the driving scenes. I have missed driving the country lanes in the UK. Wales, particularly was on the top of my favorite road drives. It has been too long....must go back! Keep up the great vids! Cheers!
The sense of speed is fantastic you are a brave man !
Well, that all got very tense at the end, I was pretty puckered watching it on my PC, at home, in the sunshine so I can't imagine what it was like in real life. I loved the reaction of the person in the Volkswagen Transporter: "Aaargh, it's a lunatic in an Invacar, head for the hills..." You have to wonder about the design of the controls in these, let's put all the dashboard controls on the right, the same side as the throttle...
And that is essentially what goes on inside my K11 Micras gearbox, albeit in metal chain form 🙂
I inherited a K11 recentky, W reg 1.3 NCVT.
42k miles, one owner, always garaged. MOT no advisories.
It's very nippy and great fun to drive.
Never in the field of budget appreciation motoring, as so much been gained from so very little. The undaunted spirit of the Hurricane & Spitfire pilots lives on.
Fantastically dangerously exciting, thanks for that Mr Nut
Back when these were in use I'd hazard a guess that hearing loss was very quickly added to the list of disabilities suffered by owners. This thing sounds noisier than a 2CV. Wouldn't think it possible, but the evidence is overwhelming. 🤣
i never got the chance to ride in a 2cv, but i do remember them being sold, i bought a new skoda in the mid 80s , due to car magazines doing tests of the cheapest cars, skoda, lada, mini and 2cv were the most common 4,
But with the pitch of the noise and the vibration of the canopy taken into consideration, you could easily dream you were in a Ju87 Stuka on a bombing run...but possibly without the option to pull out of the 90 degree dive.. And yet...still, with all of this, it appeals to me more than a 2CV. It's the danger. It must be the danger..
@@thephilpott2194 - I can't seem to get the image of hundreds of these things coming over a hill with machine guns poking through the windscreens , like pale blue dumpy daleks "Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate " ....What the hell is wrong with me!
@@lookandlisten5740 Nothing.
@@lookandlisten5740 Yes! I had commented too that they spooked me as a child as they reminded me of Daleks
I'm amazed at how little steering input is required in normal driving, looks fun and sounds like a happy little motor now too
Sweet Jeebus! I was watching the downhill section thinking "That looks a little iffy, but at least it isn't raining as that would make it even worse". Cue the "Sudden attack of weather" as you put it and its straight into Brown trousers and bicycle clips time!. Please be careful out there as TWC doesn't look like it corners on rails at the best of times :)
The joy of an old car running well - the stuff memory's can be made on
And all the better for it. Welcome back TWC!
You are a brave man! Driving a tiny three-wheeler at 50-60 mph on twisty roads, with tiller steering and no-foot-pedals braking! Wonderful & scary. My Goggomobil was completely conventional compared to TWC, though she never got up to 60.
Man what a fun ride! The storm at the end really ramped up the "excitement meter" to the point I was gripping my tablet so hard I thought I was gonna crash. You don't get to go for a hairy ride in a invacar everyday you know. Lol
Mighty two doesn't even go far enough. MAJESTIC TWC as you cleared that summit. Braver man than me on those roads and I've driven a Caterham in torrential rain! (Also not known for its great demisting system)
Whoooaaaa! You need Teflon underwear to drive that awesome bit of kit. Great video. 😱😀
Thanks Hubnut.
No, just a capacious nappy... well, I would!!
Great video, I remember enquiring if that Commer was forsale in Pontrhydygroes about 1990 and it was a good test for Twc turning onto the Cwmystwyth road as well. Keep them coming :)
Glad you have it driveable again, only thing with the spray is it's a good diagnostic tool but not a permanent fix, it's like cocaine for belts, one sniff n it's hooked! At least you know its belt slippage now. Looks like you need some anti fog on your screen! Keep up the good work!
Yes, I've been playing around with the tension today. Might be that the 'new' belt is simply too old.
Or it might just be in the process of bedding in. (I hope so)
Now that was exciting! TWC did very well with the hill climb. TWC's acceleration seems much improved. 0-30 in roughly 12 seconds I think, not bad. Another great TWC video 👍
Ian you do have some larks. Poor TWC thought she was being rescued for a retirement in beautiful Wales, never expected to be clipping the apex on twisty roads, taken out in a Welsh monsoon. I was scared watching! Presumably that can of wonder spray will be an in car accessory on future trips
Now, that's what I call entertainment! Epic and terrifying at the same time! As a textile technician working with belt drives, I think you have the wrong type of belt. A plain vee belt would do a better job IMHO. Keep up the good work!
They are the right belts. Some ATVs still use them.
I had a very early Reliant van in battleship grey. With a 2 inch brush and a tin of paint from Woolworth I painted it blue. I wondered why I got so much consideration on the road!
Just like "S R DESIGN" commented down here there are weights and springs that might account for the increased whine but i'm glad the dressing helped somewhat, and the spray is water proof so it should "stick" around, cheers bud.
Get a sunroof in it and you'll be good to go! Watching you grinding up that hill brought back memories of being stuck behind these things!
I'm not fitting a sunroof now I've fitted a headliner!
..... or a convertible conversion?
Roof unbolts... (in theory).
Quick, the summer's nearly over?
A really good test drive. Welsh rain is the wettest and most intense than anywhere else on Earth.
In fact some tent manufacturers like to boast, "Tested in Wales", to display their product's wet weather resilience.
She 'TWC' to that hill like a duck to water pal. Great to see her again.
Watching you hurtle round those tight lanes in the torrential rain was like watching a scary Roller coaster ride!
Hair raising stuff Ian! She sounds just as I remember Invacars did, including the little ringing when setting off. Take it easy on those bends 😳😂
Cracking film mate. Loved it. You brave brave man.
Mechanic in a Can to the rescue! Glad it made a difference, but I'm sure there has to be a long term fix. In the meantime, enjoy and happy Invacarring
bloody hell what a ride in that weather. you are a braver man than me Ian - as always thanks for a fantastic video -I´m off to finally put on my hubnut sticker on my skoda :-)
That's a parallel parking technique that even Audi can't match, lift and swing. Don't "roughen" the pulleys as suggested it'll just wear the belt and cause it to run hot, polished and grease free surfaces gives the best power transmission. Also, don't worry about the belt type, this is a "serrated" V belt which is correct for the purpose, toothed belts are flat and perform a completely different task.
0-60 on axle stands would have been interesting. May I suggest mounting a motorcycle switch on the left bar wired up to perform indicator and wiper functions, I was shutting my eyes every time you had to reach across the bars.
That was entertaining, reminds me of the time (about 1967) when I bought an Isetta 300. The Isetta is probably more stable than Tuc, having two wheels at the front, and one wheel at the back.
Incidentally, the sound captured by your camera is pretty good, I'm listening on large BBC Monitor speakers, one can really feel the low frequency vibrations, similar I suppose to actually being in the car.
@9.59, Edwards Garage at the bottom of Pontrydygroes hill, in the 60's i used to hear the Commer 2 strokes climbing that hill from the valley above, i'll never forget that sound, i think Edwards owned a couple & there is still a Commer Maxiload there, you must live round there somewhere lol
Excellent adventure! Looks like that belt dressing provided the needed kick in the twcws. ;-)
I'm rather annoyed with myself! 😂 I stopped myself from suggesting Tectane V Belt spray from Toolstation as I assumed, like you, it wouldn't make a deal of difference due to the load on the belt. Should have suggested it after all. Bugger. Only £2.60 a can too.
Great content as usual! Glad to see TWC hooning again! That road was glorious, hell of a climb for poor TWC too!
I love a sunday drive. The little blu star of RUclips and Hubnut on the road again. Carry on Ian well Done !
Sunday Driver Rich, & Back Scrach driver, kitty cat Sue-way
Prowling the streets of LaLa Land,
LA. USA.
That looked brilliant fun. I don't live too far away. I'll keep an eye out for you!
Here's the invacar weather forecast, downhill wind speed 25 MPH poor visibility all around. Glad you made it in one piece
Your fleet is now starting to be reliable and no complaints...... Bring in the fox
When I was 19, I used to love racing these in my reliant robin!
Very beautiful part of the world and just so perfect for classic car motoring, I found my old Triumph Dolomite 1850HL which was the only car I ever done a nut and bolt resto on was just perfect for challenging roads altho my Reliant Robin loves the windy lanes and hills here in old Dorsetshire :)
Omg how many health and safety bods saw start of that with your lifting technique and was like 😲
I actually want an Invacar now I've watched a whole bunch of your videos the past few days while I'm laid up with a sore back. I think a more up to date model would sell quite well too.
Hope to see TWC again soon !
Rain , in wales ? How unusual 😂 . great to see twc out again 👍. What are those buildings I can see the other side of the white gate .
Neighbours' house.
Awesome video Ian,that spray must be bloody good stuff to do that it really made a difference,it handles the hills well,the weather does change there doesn't it,you were chuffed with the way it drove,happy days for TWC LOL.
Always wanted to see how a CVT works on a real engine, thanks for sharing it!
Those rusty handle bars would bug the hell out of me, maybe I'm abit ocd.
Great video as usual.
Ahh that's a cool little car😄 I'd like to drive that around my little town in The Colony Texas here.
When the windows started to fog up it reminded me of a leaking bottle I had in my ZX.
Due to the laws of physics fog becomes ice in the winter.
Had to get the ice of the windows on the inside. One of those Benny Hill moments...
can sit and watch you videos for hours :) and i see you still have the 2cv cool
Lol at the bend bit. Sounds much sweeter. Well done.
60 Mph i did not think these went much over 30 mph. Impressive.
60mph sounds suicidal in an Invacar
So does 30mph. 😆
58mph to be exact . Assuming it’s a later variant I think the 70 series ?
Don’t quote me on that , but yeah 58mph , 🚙💨💨
----------------------
It seems I’m Wrong that may have been the earlier 147cc spec.
The Later 500cc is reported to have achieved as much as a suicidal 82mph .
I've had 65 out of her...
Verified by GPS, Ian?
I supose this answers my question about driving TWC in he wet. What I meant to ask in your live from Bognor vid was what is it like- I guess that answers my question!!
With rain it is useful if you connect the heating and ventilation again. The DAF passenger cars are also equipped with a variomatic, but then operated by the engine vacuum.
@12.03, good man, the Mountain road, we rented a cottage near there from the 60's & we travelled in dads 1957 A35 Van & to this day we still have it, i took him back there from Birmingham in 2016 & we stopped at Rhayadar for breakfast & there are two road to the cottage we rented the A44 or Mountain Rd, guess which one i took, the Mountain Road & the van has not been used much in the past decade & it flew to Wales & back in a day (around 200 miles) without missing a beat!
Childhood/teenage memories old invacars , I saw one old guy not even slowed in the traffic that’d come to a stop for a bus, he just mounted the kerb, 20 yds of pavement and back onto the road sweet as a Nut ! 🤪
Utterly terrifying! Especially the downhill sections, and the end of days storm to conclude proceedings.
Are the pulley surfaces polished smooth? perhaps a scuff treatment would help. Belt spray seems like a temporary fix for an underlying issue...dunno just throwing ideas about.
not seen one of them in ages . reminds me of the huge signs on the slip roads to the motorways . ..... no invalid carriages!
They had some wonderful colour choices. Aqua, or aqua
Enjoyed that cheers.Ive thought for a while now well since I was a kid and these invalid cars were going about, its one thing to end up in a wheelchair but then they challenge you some more with a strange three wheeler...lol Did recut the driving vid with the theme tune from Raiders Of The Lost Ark seemed to work.All the best!
Good to see TWC on the road again! Wonder how often the spray will need repeat application? Oh dear, that often? Still better than having to throw a belt at it again (which might not help) or worse, sourcing new pulleys! Logically, one would think a bit more tooth on the pulleys might help, though it would probably wear the belt faster as well. I've yet to have much experience with slipping belts, so I've not had reason to experiment. Whoa, that's some crazy weather to be driving little TWC through, glad you both made it safely!
I'm eyeing up another 300-mile roadtrip next weekend, so I might soon find out!
Oh my, here's hoping it goes well then!
If you ever make it to DAF Museum in Eindhoven they have a nice demo set up of a Variomatic where you can see the pulleys change diameter. DAF's Variomatic also had vacuum influencing the shifting but that does not seem to be the case with the Invacar.
I was in Eindhoven recently, but not on a day the museum was open! No vacuum here, all centrifugal I think.
I was looking at a Steyr_Puch Pinzgauer open back in the carpark yesterday (Hvar off-road tours) and thought you should try to find a Haflinger to do a Welsh green lane test to see how that lovely 2 cylinder can perform in a 4X4 instead of a 3X2 ( never written 3X2 before but suppose it's correct for Took.)
Great video and nice to hear Tuk again. What about a powerful 12v PC fan aimed at the windscreen to aid demisting?
Good to see TWC on song again, that was certainly a hard test for TWC up those hills, The wiper controls etc being on the throttle hand side is surely a bad design having to let go of the throttle to turn the switches on unless I'm missing something!
No, it is a terrible design. Rectified by 1973 if the spares car was anything to go by.
Misting up like that reminds me of long ago... we were in the same storm and the A/C kept the screen crystal clear.
in a lot of ways this is the olde renault twizy! i demand a drag race!
Proper Welsh weather there! Last time I visited and it was like that I was in my £800 Audi A8 4.2 quattro - a perfect car for the job. 60mph in twc is adventurous to say the least!
Cosy, belt maintenance makes a huge difference on scoots too. A new belt sometimes adding 8+ MPH. 👍🏼
This video should carry a warning may contain nuts big one’s .Drive it like you’ve stolen it great video as always 😀😀
In my experience spray on belt dressings don't last, I find crushed French chalk a much more permanent solution.
Would be nice to see you making your escape as Indiana Jones in Tuc but with you out running a gaint boulder ( all be it polystyrene!) The music fits a treat.
"Ah Bond, your new vehicle", ' you've got to be joking Q', " Afraid not Bond, Government cutbacks and all that, besides M thinks the Aston sticks out like a side thumb, where as this won't attract attention... Oh, and do bring it back in one piece this time Bond !"
Ahh yeshh very sexshy very sexshhy indeed.
We're just back from a week holidaying in Wales and can confirm to all watching that that bit of weather was real, absolutely representative of the local conditions and not CGI later added by HubNut for dramatic effect!
We can't have been more than a few miles from TWC and his friends at times, we did look out for you but the closest was a brief glimpse of a Reliant Ant parked next to a Rialto, spotted whilst driving into the area somewhere around Welshpool (ish) I think.
That was classic "Welcome to Wales" weather...lol
Jeez! I’m in Ireland and I remember running alongside one of these and blowing raspberries at the driver
You got to 60!
Same as the Old Daf system except twin belt drives, one belt breaks under acceleration makes life interesting though
You’re being discussed a lot on Bob Flavin’s Sunday Service on YT right now :)